TENNIS FINALS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 109, 30 December 1931, Page 6

TENNIS FINALS

N. SMITH WINS C'UP SPECTACULAR MATCHES .. AROUSE SPECTATORS' INTEREST SINGLES TO MISS BEVERLEY The Rotorua Lawn Tennis Club's Christmas tournament was brough t to a close yestorday in beautiful weather. The courts were playing ex-el-lently again after the fiocding they had received the day before and altogether, the event concluded most satisfactorily. Pleasure was evinced by Rotorua residents at seeing the Wallaee Sumner Cup for the men's championship singles contest remain in the town. It was won by N. Smith after an exhibition of spectacular and aecuratc tennis, when he defeated Jones, of Campbell Park, Auckland, 6-1, 0-2, 6-1. The game, though it appears on the scores to have been a runavvay victory, was in reality a keen contest. Smith gaining his points by a^eurate placing and quick volley shots froin midcourt. Jones lost several points through trying to cut his drives too fine and failing to clear the net while durirg the latter part of the third s -t he be came erratic, hitting a numher e balls out. Smith, on the other h"".1 was steady throughont a' d ma 3e th deciding point with a «peetaeular an well judged drive to the side line. At the conclusion of the match th president of the club, Mr. Yvr. A. MeLean, in congratulating Mr. Smith said that it was a pleasant duty to b . connected with the preseutatlon othe Wallaee Sumner Cup. The trophj which was preser.ted to the club for this contest, by Mrs W. Sumner, wato be known as the Wallaee Sumn" Memorial Cup. Mr. MeLean said tha' it served to keep evergreen the mere ory of one who had been intimatel; associated with the cdnb and in narti cular with the Christmas tournament Mr. McLcan also nv. ntioned that it was fitting that the Uophy shoub oe won by one of the late f.Ir. Sun ner's old clubrnates. The presentation was made by Mis Wanda Sumner, daughter of the donor In the final of the ladies' champiom ship singles Miss N. Beverley, of Ma tamata, defeated Miss Newton, oi Auckland, through steady plaj throughout the match. After losing the first set 6-1, Miss Newton, who u] until then had been failing into error by trying to play the s.de lines, steadied up considerably, to reaeh foiu games all in the second set Miss Beverley, however, proved too strong foi her opponent and took the set 6-4 which also gave her the match. An evenly contested game which thrilled the spectators on several oe casions by some exceedingly spectacular play was the men's chamnionshiv doubles won by Brough and Howard from Annett and Cavaye, all of Hamilton. These men, being club friends played a very sporting game of hard tennis. Brough and Howard, however, proved too active for their opponents. Annett being somewhat handieapped by an injury to his leg received earlier in the morning. Cavaye has a terrific serve and is very nimhle on his feet, but he wa« apt to overdo his driving and lost several points th rough hitting widcHis opponents were a match for hiserve, Brough also serving a swift ball and his aecuracy winning him many points. The mat"h rau to four setout of the five Brough and Ilowar-i winning by 6-4, 3-6, 6-5, 6-2. The ladies' t hanwionslup double final was a hard fought contest, Misse - N. and M. Beverley, of Matamata, defeating Mrs Herrick and Miss Newton of Auckland, on the third set. Pia: was very even and at times some cxcellent shots were witnessed. Th Misses Beverley, however, through su perior combination won the day by 65, 3-6, 6-4. 'In the mixed charnmo iship douhbe R Bees and MU- N. Beverley, of Matamata, proved too stivr.g for Andrews, of Hamilton, and Miss Mueller df Piako, whom they dof mted by 0-3 6-2. The victors double worlr. was better and their good placing and ha-'d hitting accounted for many of thei: points. The Matamata playor, Miss N. Beverley again proved too solid for lie: opponent when she met Mrs Kerr, oi Matata. She played her usual steady game and regardiess of Ihe heavy handicap of 0-30 was always in the

lead. Miss Beverley won the match 6-2, 6-2. I The men's handicap singles proved an interesting game to watch even though R. Lees, of Matata, defeated Howard, of Hamilton, by 6-2, 6-4. The Matata player was very steady, drove hard and by excellent placing kept his opponent running. Howard either failed to use enough top spin or used too much. He also founfd his handicap of 0-2/6 a big hurdle. Another Rotorua player was victorious during the finals in the ladies handicap doubles event when Mrs Johnson partnered by Miss Firth, of New Plymouth, defeated Miss O'Halloran and Miss Thomson, of Remuera, by 6-5, 6-4. It was an even contest. Several points were lost through , oor combination, but these were overshadowed by some spectacular recoveries by all four piayers. In the men's handicap doubles Anuett and Cavaye, of Hamilton, were too strong a combination for Lees and Less of Matamata, taking the match ;y 6-3, 6-4. The losers, however, played some fine tennis and were never :'ar behind. MacKay, cf Napier, and Miss Mueller, of Piako, made a go^/d combination u the mixed handicap doubles event and by hard and aecurate play defeated J. Gunn and Miss Masefield, of Auckland, by 6-1, 6-4. The main fault whuh lost many points for the losers, v.as thut Miss Masefield was an sev-n-al occasions caught napping out of or place, otherwise some excellent nnis was demonstrated by all four iuyeir. Nollovving are the results: — Men's Championship Singles. Semi-finals: Smith beat Lees, 6-1, .-4; Jones beat Tukere, 6-5, 6-4. Final: N. Smith beat Jones. Ladies' Championship Singles. Semi-finals: Miss N. Beverley beat .iss M. Beverley, 6-2, 6-4; Miss New.un beat Mrs Duncan, 6-2, 6-0. Final: Miss N. Beverley beat Miss ,'ewton, 6-1, 6-4. Men's Championship Doubles Semi-fir.al: Brough and Howard beat iiiii.li and Smith, 6-2, 6-2; Annett and . avaye beat Tukere and Morrison, j-o, 6-3. ■ I mai: Brough and Howard beat Anlett and Cavaye, 6-4, 3-6, 6-5, 6-2. Ladies' Championship Doubles kHmi-finals. Mrs Herrick and Miss .sewton beat Mrs Duncan and Miss ciogiiixe, 6-2, 6-4; Misses Beverley oeat Mrs Mueller and Mrs Johnson, -3, 6-0. I'inal: Misses Beverley beat Mrs .lerrick and ivliss Newton 6-5, 3-6, 6-4. Mixed Championship Doubles Semi-final: Lees and Miss Beverley oeat Stevens and Mrs Kerr, 6-3, 6-2; Andrews and Miss Mueller beat Bx'ough and Miss King, 6-5, 6-4. Final: Lees and Miss Beverley beat Andrews and Miss Mueller. Men's Handicap Singles Semi-finals: Howard beat Fabling, 11-7; Lees beat Gunn, 11-8. Final: R. Lees beat Howard 6-2, 6-4. Ladies' Handicap Singles Semi-final: Miss Beverley beat Miss Mueller 9-8; Mrs Kerr beat Mrs Ilerl/ick, 9.5. Final: Miss N. Beverley beat Mrs Kerr, 6-2, 6-2. Men's Handicap Doubles. Semi-finals: Lees and Lees beat kensington and Spencer 11-7; Cavaye uid li. Annett beat Wilson and Wilton, 11-8. Final Cavaye and Annett beat Lees and Lees, 6-3, 6-4. Ladies' Handicap Doubles. Semi-finals: Mrs Johnson and Miss rhrth beat -Miss Seay and Miss Maseheid 9-4; Miss O'Halloran and Miss thomson beat Misses Beverley 9-5. Final: Mrs Johnson and Miss Firth oeat Miss O'Halloran and Miss Thomson, 6-5, 6-4. Mixed Handicap Doubles Semi-finals: J. Gunn and Miss Maseticld beat Bridger and Miss Hogg, 11-8; Mackay and Miss Mueller beat Stevens and Mrs Kerr, 11-10. Final: Miss Mueller and Mackay beat Miss Masefield and Gunn, 6-1, 6-4.